The new classification recognises Arrábida’s natural and cultural diversity, which now belongs to the world list of more than 750 Biosphere Reserve. It is the 13th in Portugal.
According to UNESCO, Arrábida stands out due to its location on the Portuguese Atlantic Coast, which combines Mediterranean scrublands, Pinus Pinaster forests, caves, marine ecosystems and human activities such as ancestral fishing, olive cultivation, the production of Setúbal Moscatel wine, and eco-tourism.
The region houses more than 1400 plant species (40% national flora) including 70 rare and native species, as well as around 200 vertebrates and more than 2000 marine species.
The application was put forward in 2024 by the Setúbal Region Municipalities Association in collaboration with the Nature and Forests Conservation Institute (ICNF).
The Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that this distinction represents "a fair recognition of Arrábida’s environmental and cultural wealth and an added responsibility for all those who care for it".
With this decision, Arrábida joins areas that are renowned internationally, such as the Galapagos, Serengeti or Yellowstone, strengthening Portugal’s integration in the Biosphere Reserve world network.
